Healthy Eating for Children

Have fresh fruits and vegetables cut when they get home from school. They will be hungry, and if that is what is available to them, they are more likely to start eating it.

At the dinner table, have a fresh salad cut, or raw vegetables cut and placed with all the other food. Encourage everyone to role model and always try the foods.

Teach your children about the fruits and vegetables they eat. Talk about the nutrients you get from different foods, and especially the importance of eating a variety of fruits and vegetables. Don't force them to eat any food, but help them learn about them so that they understand which foods are healthy for them.

Keep healthy foods in the car when going on long drives. Keep easy snacks on hand, like carrots, yogurt, water, and apples, so that you don’t have to rely on fast food restaurants.

Experiment with different types of homemade dips. This may make eating fruits and vegetables easier for your children.

Sneak things in! Some things can be added to your meals without anyone even noticing. Some great examples of such nutritious foods are:

Chia seeds

Flax seeds

Sesame seeds

Ginger and garlic

Get your children involved with cooking or the preparation process. If they get involved, they will be more interested in eating what you’ve cooked. If they’re old enough, have them be involved in the shopping process as well.

Bring less snack foods home. This may require cutting back very gradually. If certain foods are not bought and are not available at home, they won’t be able to eat them.

Be a good role model. If they see you developing healthy habits, they will be more likely to follow along.

Finally, try to make eating healthy fun for children. Here are some ideas: